“A toolkit for the self-assessment of agency cultural competency has been developed by the El Paso County, CO, Greenbook Initiative. The toolkit, which can be downloaded for free, is a comprehensive collection of surveys, interviews, facility checklists, and document reviews, as well as reports from two sites where the toolkit was piloted. The toolkit allows agencies to survey staff, volunteers, and clients regarding their perceptions and experiences with agency policies. It also directs agencies to examine their mission statement, policies, procedures, outreach, communications, and physical facilities with a view toward cultural competency. The toolkit provides a definition of cultural competency that stresses the ability of an agency to work effectively in cross-cultural situations. To be culturally competent, an agency must: – Value diversity – Have the capacity for cultural self-assessment – Be conscious of the dynamics inherent when cultures interact – Institutionalize cultural knowledge – Adapt service delivery based on understanding of cultural diversity” – Description from Children’s Bureau Express
